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Mode selection mechanism and method for mobile terminal using virtual mode selection dial

a mode selection and mobile terminal technology, applied in the field of mobile terminals, can solve the problems of complex structure of the mobile terminal, difficult to recognize the selected mode or function, and complex key manipulation for selecting an operation mode, etc., and achieve the effect of simplifying the hardware structure of the mobile phone and the complexity of the mode selection

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-12-13
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a solution to the problem of complex mode selection in mobile phones by introducing a virtual mode selection dial displayed on a display. This mechanism simplifies the hardware structure of the mobile phone and reduces the complexity of mode selection. The virtual mode selection dial can be selected using a touch screen or physical button and the selected operation mode will be displayed on the screen. This mode selection method allows for easy and quick selection of different modes of operation for the mobile phone.

Problems solved by technology

In the case of the conventional mode selection, it is difficult to recognize the selected mode or function especially when the operation modes and functions are provided in the form of a list.
In addition, a complex key manipulation is required for selecting an operation mode.
Moreover, the conventional hardware mode selection dial is vulnerable to physical impacts and makes the structure of the mobile terminal to be complex which in turn hinders from realizing a slim and lightweight design of the mobile terminal.
Furthermore, the conventional hardware mode selection dial is disadvantageous in that the dial may hide the mode or function list while rotating, thereby causing an inconvenience to the user.

Method used

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  • Mode selection mechanism and method for mobile terminal using virtual mode selection dial
  • Mode selection mechanism and method for mobile terminal using virtual mode selection dial
  • Mode selection mechanism and method for mobile terminal using virtual mode selection dial

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first embodiment

[0024]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a mobile terminal equipped with a virtual mode selection mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the mobile terminal is a cellular communication device and supports a camera function.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, the mobile terminal includes a control unit 110, a memory unit 111, a keypad unit 113, an audio processing unit 114, a camera unit 115, a video processing unit 116, a display unit 117, a Radio Frequency (RF) unit 118, a data processing unit 119, and a mode selection unit 117a.

[0026] The RF unit 118 is implemented to process radio signals exchanging between a mobile terminal and a base station (not shown). The RF unit 118 includes an RF transmitter for up-converting and amplifying a base band signal to be transmitted, and an RF receiver for low noise amplifying and down-converting the received radio frequency signal.

[0027] The data processing unit 119 is provided with a transm...

second embodiment

[0039]FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a mode selection method using a virtual mode selection dial according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 4, the mobile terminal is turned on to enter a standby mode (S401). During the standby mode, the mobile terminal determines whether a specific function execution command is input (S403). In this embodiment, the specific function execution command is generated by a camera activation key for activating the camera unit 115. If the camera activation key is not input, the mobile terminal operates in a basic phone mode for cellular communication (S404).

[0041] If the specific function execution command is input, the mobile terminal determines whether a virtual mode selection dial display command is input (S405). If a virtual mode selection dial display command is not input, the mobile terminal operates in the specific operation mode (S406). In this embodiment, the specific operation mode is a camera preview mode ...

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Abstract

A mode selection mechanism and method for a mobile terminal using a virtual mode selection dial presented on a display screen are provided. A mobile terminal having a virtual mode selection dial presented on a display includes a virtual mode selection unit for selecting one of operation modes provided by the mobile terminal and a controller for controlling functions of the operation mode selected by the virtual mode selection unit. A mode selection method for a mobile terminal includes displaying a virtual mode selection dial on a display; selecting an operation mode using the virtual mode selection dial; entering the selected operation mode; and executing a specific function associated with the operation mode in response to a user command.

Description

CLAIMS OF PRIORITY [0001] This application claims priority to an application entitled “MODE SELECTION MECHANISM AND METHOD FOR MOBILE TERMINAL USING VIRTUAL MODE SELECTION DIAL,” filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on May 29, 2006 and assigned Serial No. 2006-0047923, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and, in particular, to a mode selection mechanism and method of using a virtual mode selection dial presented on a display screen. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Typically, mobile terminals are equipped with a mode selection mechanism implemented with a key, button, or dial. The dial is a rotating disk such that the mode selection is performed by rotating the dial. The mode selection dial generally cooperates with a display unit, such that an icon representing the selected mode is highlighted on the display, thus ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H04M1/00G06F3/048G06F3/0482
CPCG06F3/0482H04B1/40
Inventor KIM, KWON TAEKIM, BONG KYUNKIM, HWAN
Owner SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD